yesterday i went for my first training session with a personal trainer. i've never been one to spend money on something like this in the past, but i've gotten to the point where i feel like i really need someone to help me figure out a good workout that will give me results, so i decided to take the plunge a buy a few sessions to get me on track.
so, i got there yesterday and walked up to the counter to tell the person working that i was there for a training session with kevin. and of course, kevin happens to be the most gorgeous trainer they have on staff. doh. i really should have asked for a less attractive trainer so i could have more comfortably discussed my weight (ouch), my eating and drinking habits (waaaay too much alcohol), and the dreaded BMI (anyone want to talk obesity?!). but, i was honest, figuring a) i'm not there because kevin and i met on match.com and are trying to date, b) if i'm not honest, he can't put together an appropriate plan for me and c) he's going to see me sweat, groan and possibly cry in the coming weeks, so i don't think being honest up front is the worst experience he's going to have with me.
all in all it went well, though it was more of an assessment than a regular training session so that he could measure my endurance levels, balance & flexibility, etc. officially, my training starts on saturday at 2pm. pray for me.
p.s. - the title of this blog is a quote from dear kevin after seeing me do a particularly heinous series of drills. bless his heart.
11.18.2009
11.16.2009
monday meme
(note: this was supposed to post on monday - hence the title - but it failed to work somehow, so i am back dating it and will post another blog today)
1.What is your current obsession ?
Researching MBA programs, stressing out about my first personal trainer session (eeek) and making plans for my annual Christmas visit to London!
2. What are you wearing today?
Black pants, green fitted sweater, black heels (the higher the better!)
3. What’s for dinner?
Greek food! I'm going out in Greektown for a friend's birthday. Opa!
4. What’s the last thing you bought?
Beer and a turkey burger at the bar last night; before that - personal training sessions. Those things don't really go together, do they??
5. What are you listening to right now?
Ryan Adams via my co-worker's Pandora streaming on her computer. I love sitting next to Kim!
6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?
No tag, this was self-inflicted. But, I did see it on Gary's blog and I think he is quite fabulous.
7. If you could have a house, totally paid for, fully furnished, anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
London.
8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?
comfy skirts, capris, flip flops
9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Italy
10. Which language do you want to learn?
Espanol
11. What’s your favorite quote?
"Expect nothing and you will rarely be disappointed" is sort of my mantra, but I also love this one from Albert Einstein: "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
You said it, Al!
12. Who do you want to meet right now?
Peyton Manning so I can give him a big kiss for beating the Patriots last night!
13. What is your favorite color?
Blue.
14. What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own closet?
Black fleece pullover
15. What is your dream job?
To be the head of a corporate foundation
16. What's your favorite magazine?
In Style
17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
Probably a mani/pedi and a massage
18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
Being able to see people's cracks when they bend over. Some of us are just not meant to wear super low-cut jeans! Also, white socks with black shoes.
19. Who according to you is the most over-rated style icon?
Jessica Biel. Ick.
20. What kind of haircut do you prefer?
Longer than shoulder length with layers
21. What are you going to do after this?
Leaving to meet my friend for lunch - yay!
22. What are your favorite movies?
Love Actually, Sex & the City, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
23. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can't live without?
Aquage shine spray, C.O. Bigelow lip gloss, OPI nail polish
24. What inspires you ?
People who have gone through loss, illness and other issues and still keep a positive attitude and keep living their lives
25. Give us three styling tips that always work for you?
Baby oil on your body right after you turn off the shower, before you dry off - keeps skin soft all day; hair powder is genius on days when you're running late and don't have time to wash your hair; seche vite top coat over your self done nail polish will make your nails look like you've had a professional manicure or pedicure
26. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?
Borrow from my roommate!
27. Coffee or tea?
Coffee
28. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
Call friends to get together and drink wine; take a long bath; go to yoga
29. What is the meaning of your name?
I had to google this. Apparently it can mean brave and/or courageous. Who knew?!
30. Which other blogs do you love visiting?
The links listed on my blog plus other random finds that I see on other people's blogs
31. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?
Chocolate Chip Cookies
32. Favorite Season?
Fall.
33. If I come to your house now, what would you cook for me?
Hahahaha! Trust me, you wouldn't want me to do that. We would order sushi.
34. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?
Tell them directly that you won't put up with their actions anymore.
35. How do you calm yourself down when you are agitated or angry?
Music, venting to friends/family
36.Who is the modern ideal girl: The one who knows how to shop, dress and enjoy, or the one who is simple but manages the house, kids and herself well?
My sister.
1.What is your current obsession ?
Researching MBA programs, stressing out about my first personal trainer session (eeek) and making plans for my annual Christmas visit to London!
2. What are you wearing today?
Black pants, green fitted sweater, black heels (the higher the better!)
3. What’s for dinner?
Greek food! I'm going out in Greektown for a friend's birthday. Opa!
4. What’s the last thing you bought?
Beer and a turkey burger at the bar last night; before that - personal training sessions. Those things don't really go together, do they??
5. What are you listening to right now?
Ryan Adams via my co-worker's Pandora streaming on her computer. I love sitting next to Kim!
6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?
No tag, this was self-inflicted. But, I did see it on Gary's blog and I think he is quite fabulous.
7. If you could have a house, totally paid for, fully furnished, anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
London.
8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?
comfy skirts, capris, flip flops
9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Italy
10. Which language do you want to learn?
Espanol
11. What’s your favorite quote?
"Expect nothing and you will rarely be disappointed" is sort of my mantra, but I also love this one from Albert Einstein: "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
You said it, Al!
12. Who do you want to meet right now?
Peyton Manning so I can give him a big kiss for beating the Patriots last night!
13. What is your favorite color?
Blue.
14. What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own closet?
Black fleece pullover
15. What is your dream job?
To be the head of a corporate foundation
16. What's your favorite magazine?
In Style
17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
Probably a mani/pedi and a massage
18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
Being able to see people's cracks when they bend over. Some of us are just not meant to wear super low-cut jeans! Also, white socks with black shoes.
19. Who according to you is the most over-rated style icon?
Jessica Biel. Ick.
20. What kind of haircut do you prefer?
Longer than shoulder length with layers
21. What are you going to do after this?
Leaving to meet my friend for lunch - yay!
22. What are your favorite movies?
Love Actually, Sex & the City, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
23. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can't live without?
Aquage shine spray, C.O. Bigelow lip gloss, OPI nail polish
24. What inspires you ?
People who have gone through loss, illness and other issues and still keep a positive attitude and keep living their lives
25. Give us three styling tips that always work for you?
Baby oil on your body right after you turn off the shower, before you dry off - keeps skin soft all day; hair powder is genius on days when you're running late and don't have time to wash your hair; seche vite top coat over your self done nail polish will make your nails look like you've had a professional manicure or pedicure
26. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?
Borrow from my roommate!
27. Coffee or tea?
Coffee
28. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
Call friends to get together and drink wine; take a long bath; go to yoga
29. What is the meaning of your name?
I had to google this. Apparently it can mean brave and/or courageous. Who knew?!
30. Which other blogs do you love visiting?
The links listed on my blog plus other random finds that I see on other people's blogs
31. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?
Chocolate Chip Cookies
32. Favorite Season?
Fall.
33. If I come to your house now, what would you cook for me?
Hahahaha! Trust me, you wouldn't want me to do that. We would order sushi.
34. What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?
Tell them directly that you won't put up with their actions anymore.
35. How do you calm yourself down when you are agitated or angry?
Music, venting to friends/family
36.Who is the modern ideal girl: The one who knows how to shop, dress and enjoy, or the one who is simple but manages the house, kids and herself well?
My sister.
11.12.2009
good intentions pave the road to the bar
yesterday morning i had a conversation with self about getting in shape. i'm always complaining about wishing i could lose a little weight or wanting to get back into those smaller pants, but i have been very bad about actually making a strong and continued effort to do these things. so, yesterday morning i packed my gym bag and vowed to stop at the gym i've been wanting to check out on my way home from work. i even kept myself psyched about it all day, up to the time i was getting off the elevator and walking toward the exit. and then it happened. a few of my co-workers were leaving ahead of me and asked if i wanted to go for a drink to celebrate our colleague's birthday. and so i did. and then i went to dinner with them at a mexican restaurant which boasts to be home to "the killer margarita" so you can just imagine how the night ended up.
maybe tonight i will sleep in my workout clothes and see if that helps....
maybe tonight i will sleep in my workout clothes and see if that helps....
11.11.2009
it's 11/11, make a wish!
many of you have heard people say that when the clock strikes 11:11, you get to make a wish. (well, unless you're like me and think you should make four wishes, one for each number 1 and for better odds that at least one of the four will come true) so today, in honor of the date 11/11, i'm going to make one big wish, but i haven't quite decided what that is yet.
what are you wishing for today?
what are you wishing for today?
11.10.2009
the plus one conundrum
me: so did you see the email about the wedding in september?
self: yup. mexico! maybe we can lose some weight and get ourselves a little spray tan by then, eh?
me: yes, we'll do that. and get a great dress for the wedding and maybe stay a couple of extra days for fun!
self: and have you thought about what else comes with this fabulous time?
me: margaritas?
self: yes. and?
me: beach wedding?
self: yes....
me: sun and food and music and an all-around good time? and celebrating with our friend S? and maybe some really good guacamole? ooh! and maybe we can go back to fajita republic and --
self: yeah, yeah, all of that. think! you're not thinking clearly.
me: what?! what are you talking about? money issues? because we have plenty of time to save up and the place is ALL INCLUSIVE! fabulous!
self: (big sigh and even bigger eyeroll) two words - plus. one.
me: ohhhhhhhh..... that......
self: yes, THAT.
me: well, we go to weddings and stuff all the time without a plus one. no big deal.
self: we go to weddings where we have large groups of close friends or family who are also attending. no need to have a plus one at those things, in fact we usually prefer it that way so we don't have to babysit a date and make sure he's having fun. this is different.
me: i cannot believe i'm going to say this, but you might be right.
self: holy crap. put it on the calendar! you admitted i was right!
me: oh, calm down. ok, let's think about this. destination wedding where a few people i know will be invited, but may or may not attend. bride and groom will be crazy busy the whole time. i'm good at talking to people and having fun even if i don't really know the group, but for a whole weekend it would be great to have someone there with us who we know...
self: no kidding. it gets pretty boring hanging out with just you.
me: shhhhhh. ok, so what do we do?
self: we have no choice. the plus one challenge is on like donkey kong. surely to god even you can find someone in the course of the next 10 months.
me: gee, thanks for the vote of confidence. sometimes i think you root for us to fail.
self: (feigning shock) i would never do such a thing.
me: right....
self: i'll be your personal cheerleader for this one. just do not accept any help from our friend ann. bless her heart, she tries - well, sorta. mostly she likes to try to embarrass us and hook us up with the ickiest guys in the bar. remember that one guy who started petting your hair?! eeeek!!!
me: yeah, that was pretty disturbing. gross. ok, so no help from ann unless she's going to actually help and not make a mockery of this.
self: agreed. and anyone is fair game, so help from friends, roommates - ok, again with the exception of tim - work colleagues, etc. whoever has single, decent, available guys they can at least introduce us to must be drafted.
me: ok, i guess we'll see how it goes.
self: we'll do great! just wait and see!
me: wow. that was actually supportive. amazing.
self: well, i figure if we don't succeed, there's always the option to rent an escort.
me: and just when i thought i had you in my corner....
self: let the games begin.
self: yup. mexico! maybe we can lose some weight and get ourselves a little spray tan by then, eh?
me: yes, we'll do that. and get a great dress for the wedding and maybe stay a couple of extra days for fun!
self: and have you thought about what else comes with this fabulous time?
me: margaritas?
self: yes. and?
me: beach wedding?
self: yes....
me: sun and food and music and an all-around good time? and celebrating with our friend S? and maybe some really good guacamole? ooh! and maybe we can go back to fajita republic and --
self: yeah, yeah, all of that. think! you're not thinking clearly.
me: what?! what are you talking about? money issues? because we have plenty of time to save up and the place is ALL INCLUSIVE! fabulous!
self: (big sigh and even bigger eyeroll) two words - plus. one.
me: ohhhhhhhh..... that......
self: yes, THAT.
me: well, we go to weddings and stuff all the time without a plus one. no big deal.
self: we go to weddings where we have large groups of close friends or family who are also attending. no need to have a plus one at those things, in fact we usually prefer it that way so we don't have to babysit a date and make sure he's having fun. this is different.
me: i cannot believe i'm going to say this, but you might be right.
self: holy crap. put it on the calendar! you admitted i was right!
me: oh, calm down. ok, let's think about this. destination wedding where a few people i know will be invited, but may or may not attend. bride and groom will be crazy busy the whole time. i'm good at talking to people and having fun even if i don't really know the group, but for a whole weekend it would be great to have someone there with us who we know...
self: no kidding. it gets pretty boring hanging out with just you.
me: shhhhhh. ok, so what do we do?
self: we have no choice. the plus one challenge is on like donkey kong. surely to god even you can find someone in the course of the next 10 months.
me: gee, thanks for the vote of confidence. sometimes i think you root for us to fail.
self: (feigning shock) i would never do such a thing.
me: right....
self: i'll be your personal cheerleader for this one. just do not accept any help from our friend ann. bless her heart, she tries - well, sorta. mostly she likes to try to embarrass us and hook us up with the ickiest guys in the bar. remember that one guy who started petting your hair?! eeeek!!!
me: yeah, that was pretty disturbing. gross. ok, so no help from ann unless she's going to actually help and not make a mockery of this.
self: agreed. and anyone is fair game, so help from friends, roommates - ok, again with the exception of tim - work colleagues, etc. whoever has single, decent, available guys they can at least introduce us to must be drafted.
me: ok, i guess we'll see how it goes.
self: we'll do great! just wait and see!
me: wow. that was actually supportive. amazing.
self: well, i figure if we don't succeed, there's always the option to rent an escort.
me: and just when i thought i had you in my corner....
self: let the games begin.
11.09.2009
weekends don't count, right??
ok, ok, so i'm not doing as well as i had hoped with nablopomo. i realize i started a day late and am now a couple of days short on the blogging. still, i'm proud of myself for attempting to post a blog each day. since i was absent from the blogging world the last two days, i figured i'd give you a recap of what was keeping me away from my computer....
saturday:
had a fantastic day in bloomington with friends and parents. the weather was perfect for a day of tailgating, football, drinking, and cornhole. i finally got to see jill & nick's new home and we had a great time reminiscing about the old college days. after a solid 12+ hours of drinking we finally called it a night, but not until adam and i defeated everyone and reigned as the supreme euchre champs of the weekend.
sunday:
after breakfast and showers, we headed out of bloomington and decided to stop at the brown county winery along the way. we did a little wine tasting and purchased a few bottles then hit the road again. after a while we stopped for lunch at bw3 and i got to see the first half of the colts game. we headed on to chicago after that and i spent last night hanging out with my roommates.
and on a few unrelated notes....
i HATE the kay jeweler commercials. i saw the first christmas one of the season just now and i threw up in my mouth a little. ick.
someone clipped my bumper on my way home tonight so i'll be taking my car for a wash to see if the paint rubs off. if not, i'll be calling this chick and her insurance company. fun times.
i'm an idiot and when i had to re-set the time on my coffee maker yesterday, i accidentally set it for pm instead of am. imagine my disappointment when i got up this morning expecting hot coffee and found instead that i had 12 hours to wait for it to brew. doh!
i was extremely impressed with myself when i found that i could sing pretty much every word to john michael montgomery's song "sold (grundy county auction)" when it came on xm radio on our way to bloomington on friday.
sometimes i have really good hair. today is not one of those days.
saturday:
had a fantastic day in bloomington with friends and parents. the weather was perfect for a day of tailgating, football, drinking, and cornhole. i finally got to see jill & nick's new home and we had a great time reminiscing about the old college days. after a solid 12+ hours of drinking we finally called it a night, but not until adam and i defeated everyone and reigned as the supreme euchre champs of the weekend.
sunday:
after breakfast and showers, we headed out of bloomington and decided to stop at the brown county winery along the way. we did a little wine tasting and purchased a few bottles then hit the road again. after a while we stopped for lunch at bw3 and i got to see the first half of the colts game. we headed on to chicago after that and i spent last night hanging out with my roommates.
and on a few unrelated notes....
i HATE the kay jeweler commercials. i saw the first christmas one of the season just now and i threw up in my mouth a little. ick.
someone clipped my bumper on my way home tonight so i'll be taking my car for a wash to see if the paint rubs off. if not, i'll be calling this chick and her insurance company. fun times.
i'm an idiot and when i had to re-set the time on my coffee maker yesterday, i accidentally set it for pm instead of am. imagine my disappointment when i got up this morning expecting hot coffee and found instead that i had 12 hours to wait for it to brew. doh!
i was extremely impressed with myself when i found that i could sing pretty much every word to john michael montgomery's song "sold (grundy county auction)" when it came on xm radio on our way to bloomington on friday.
sometimes i have really good hair. today is not one of those days.
11.06.2009
cooking 101
it's been a joke in my family for a while that a few of us women-folk don't cook all that well, or at least manage to have a lot of minor disasters in the kitchen when we try to prepare food. some of us have issues making desserts, some have problems with main dishes. i have problems with boiling water. that's right - if it requires boiling water, i might end up a) throwing it away, b) calling the fire department or c) consulting a physician. with that said, i give you my top three recipes of boiling disasters:
1. No-bake cookies (attention should be paid to the word "no-bake")
- turn burner on high in order to boil water
1. No-bake cookies (attention should be paid to the word "no-bake") - measure appropriate amount of water for boiling and pour into pot on stove top
- turn on stove to boil water, go to measure out other ingredients
- turn around to check status of water and see flames shooting out of burner
- scream and panic for 15-30 seconds (the shorter time, the better)
- put oven mitt on hand and bravely turn off stove top
- run away into living room and watch to see what happens
- celebrate not burning down the house when the flames go out by going to the store to buy bakery cookies and wine
2. Hard-boiled eggs
- put pot of water and eggs on stove top
- turn burner on high in order to boil water - go into living room to wait until water boils to start timer
- check email, talk on phone and get caught up in an old beverly hills 90210 episode on tv
- go into kitchen later to get something to drink
- glance at stove and shout a string of curse words
- run to stove and turn off burner
- look in pot, see no water
- dump eggs into sink and observe brownish-black color of shells
- throw away and go out for breakfast
3. Pasta/Rice
- put pot of water on stove
- turn burner on high to bring water to a boil
- wander aimlessly around kitchen deciding what to put in pasta
- finally decide to make rice instead, get out rice and see only 2 cups of water are needed
- check status of water on stove top
- see boiling water and think it would be a waste to throw it out, put new water on to boil and have to wait
- take pot to sink
- using a one-cup measuring cup, scoop one cup of boiling water out of pot, pour into a separate container
- dip cup in water again and pour water into separate container, held by innocent left hand
- miss cup completely and douse left hand with scalding water
- run around kitchen screaming
- run back to sink and rinse hand with cool water, cursing self for being a moron
- continue to attend to hand by putting cool compresses on it throughout the evening
- order pizza
- tape ice pack to scalded hand, take a tylenol pm and go to bed
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